Decoding Chakras: Navigating the Murky Waters Between Myth, Fact, and Sound

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Apr 11
4 min read

Updated: Apr 16

When I was training as a sound healer, there was a whole section on the chakra system — complete with notes, colours, emotions, and body parts. We were taught that each chakra corresponded to a specific musical note: C for the root, D for the sacral, and so on up the scale. I even had to base my case studies around it. But honestly? It never sat quite right with me. It didn’t resonate (pardon the pun).

Maybe it’s the way my brain works — that’s the autism in me. I need facts. I need something that gets my brain going and helps me feel grounded in what I’m offering. So, the further I got into my training, the more I started to question what I was being taught. I dug deeper. I asked a lot of “why”s. I didn’t just want a system to follow. I wanted to understand how sound could actually help the body heal.

And I know it can — because it helped me.

I still remember my first experience at a woodland retreat. The moment Aaron began playing the gongs, my whole body responded. Not just a nice sound — a physical reaction. Something shifted. Something clicked. And it hasn’t left me since.

What’s the Story with Chakras?

You see chakras everywhere these days — rainbow-coloured, neatly stacked from base to crown, each linked to a different emotion, sound, gland, and crystal. But that version is actually quite new.

The original chakra system came from ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, composed between 1500 and 500 BCE. These texts described chakras as points of focus during meditation — not energy “centres” as we use the term today. The concept was further developed in later texts such as the Upanishads and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Back then:

The number and placement of chakras varied between traditions.
There were no rainbow colours associated with them.
They weren’t used to diagnose or treat emotional or physical conditions.

The seven-chakra system we know today is a modern creation, shaped by early 20th-century writers like Sir John Woodroffe, later mixed with Western psychology through people like Carl Jung. Then in the 70s and 80s, the New Age movement added the colours, crystals, and affirmations we now see all over social media.

It’s not that it’s “wrong” — but for me, it felt like something was missing.

Questioning the Note-Chakra Connection

During my training, I was taught that each chakra corresponds to a specific musical note, aligning with the Western C major scale. However, as I delved deeper, I discovered that this direct correlation is a relatively modern development and not rooted in traditional Eastern practices.

In Indian classical music, the system of 'sargam' uses the syllables Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, which differ from the Western C-D-E-F-G-A-B notation. While there are seven chakras and seven musical notes in both systems, the direct one-to-one correspondence commonly taught isn't traditionally established.

Moreover, the chakra system originates from Indian spiritual traditions, focusing on energy centers within the body, whereas the modern Western musical scale was developed through Western music theory. The two systems evolved independently, making their direct association questionable.

Additionally, musical notes can vary in frequency across different cultures and historical periods. For instance, the note designated as 'A' has been tuned to various frequencies (e.g., 432 Hz, 440 Hz) over time. This variability implies that any fixed association between a musical note and a chakra is arbitrary and not universally applicable.

Moving Towards the Body

These days, I’ve left the chakra model behind. I still work with the body and energy — but in a way that feels more direct, more grounded, and more in tune with how the body actually works.

Here’s where I focus now:

✨ Entrainment

Sound helps the body sync up. Whether it’s brainwaves, breath, or heartbeat, rhythmic tones from gongs or bowls encourage the body to slow down and settle. This is called entrainment — and it’s part of why people often feel calmer or sleep better after a session.

💧 Lymphatic Flow

The lymphatic system relies on movement and vibration to flow. Low tones, especially from large gongs or bowls, can help support this natural movement. It’s one of the reasons people report feeling clearer or more open after a soundbath.

🎶 Vagus Nerve Stimulation

The vagus nerve helps regulate the nervous system. Sound, especially deep tones or vocal work like humming, can stimulate this nerve — helping shift the body into a more relaxed state. You’ll often notice sighs, yawns, or belly rumbles during a session — signs that the nervous system is letting go.

🧠 Head–Heart Coherence

When the brain and heart are in sync, the whole system runs more smoothly. Sound helps bring us into that state — especially when combined with slow breathing and a safe, calm environment.

Letting Go of the Labels

Over time, I’ve moved away from using chakra language in my sessions. Not because it’s wrong — but because I want people to connect with their actual bodies, not just symbols. We don’t need to label something as “a blocked third chakra” to know we feel anxious or tight in the chest. We can feel that directly, and sound gives us a way to meet it, gently and simply.

If you’re curious about how sound supports the body in real terms — from the nervous system to breath to emotional release — come along to one of my events. You don’t need to know anything about chakras or energy systems. Just bring your body and let the sound do the talking.